Lula’s Pick for Brazil’s Supreme Court Faces Senate Resistance as Chamber Rift Deepens

Overview

• Senate government leader Jaques Wagner said there is neither political support nor time to vote on Jorge Messias’ nomination in December, suggesting the process will roll into next year.
• Senate President Davi Alcolumbre issued a note saying the confirmation will proceed “at the appropriate moment” and, according to allies, has weighed forcing a floor vote before the Dec. 23 recess.
• Once the presidential message arrives, the CCJ led by Otto Alencar will pick the rapporteur and set the hearing, and there is no statutory deadline for the committee’s sabatina.
• Opposition leaders publicly declared they will vote against Messias, who needs at least 41 of 81 votes in the secret ballot of the full Senate after clearing the CCJ.
• Heightening tensions, Chamber President Hugo Motta broke with PT leader Lindbergh Farias, a rupture that government allies fear could complicate votes on the LDO and the 2026 budget.